Pastor sues House of Rep member over alleged N2.25m commission

A Pastor has dragged the member of the House of Representatives representing Barkin Ladi/Riyom Federal Constituency, Simon Mwadkon, to a Jos High Court in Plateau State over failure to pay an alleged N2.25 million commission. The Pastor, Michael Gulu, in his writ, claimed he assisted Mwadkon to purchase a property at 38, Ahmadu Bello WAY Jos.
Gulu alleged that after the transaction, Mwadkon refused to pay him the five percent commission to which he was entitled.
The pastor, through his Counsel, Wuyang Bwakat, is asking for another N1 million as damages for the inconveniences caused him by the alleged default.
Gulu alleged that sometimes in June 2011, one Godwin Makeri, an estate valuer, approached him for prayers over an unsold property worth N70 million.
He averred that Makeri claimed that he was given the property to sell but for over three years he could not get a buyer and needed the intervention of God.
Gulu alleged that it was after his prayers that he got in touch with Mwadkon, who indicated interest in buying the property with a promise to pay him five per cent commission.
“But after the transaction, the respondent (Mwadkon), who bought the property for N45 million, had since refused to pay the commission.
“The respondent has refused and ignored to honour his obligation to the plaintiff by using one excuse or the other for not paying the money.
“It got to a point where the defendant was sending threats to the plaintiff through his thugs and goons to intimidate the plaintiff.”
Gulu then lodged a complain with the police, who invited Mwadkon and advised both parties to go and settle the matter amicably.
But Gulu alleged that the legislator did not bulge, even when his alleged spiritual father, Rev. Nanyah Goifa of ECWA Bishara, Jankwano, Jos, intervened.
The complainant prayed the court to compel Mwadkon to pay him his N2.25 million commission being his legitimate due from the transaction.
When the case, which is before Justice Albert Dandam of High Court 13, came up for mention, Bwakat told the court that he could not continue with the case.
He said that was because he had just been served with a motion filed by Mwadkon’s Counsel, Sunday Danbaba, on that Monday morning.
He said he needed more time to reply to the motion, which was seeking for extension of time within which to file their defence.
“My Lord, since I was only served this morning, and the case has to suffer an adjournment, I hereby asked for N10,000 cost,” he demanded.
But Danbaba objected to the application for cost, arguing that the delay was not deliberate and asked the court to disregard the application.
Dandam, in his ruling, did not offer any cost but told Danbaba to always keep to the court rules and do the right thing at the right time.
He then adjourned the case to July 4 for hearing of motion.